The New Designer | Joanna Vanderpuije

June 26, 2017

Joanna Vanderpuije is a London-based designer specialising in handmade screen-printed textiles and womenswear. As one of my chosen designers exhibiting at New Designer’s One Year On showcase, Vanderpuije has a host of experience but is now setting up shop under her own name, creating energetic fabrics and abstract clothing items.

The starting point for Vanderpuije’s textiles evolves from her hand drawings, paintings, collage and mixed media. Specialising in screen-printing, she pays meticulous attention to detail and elements of initial artworks are used within the final fabrics. Fusing graphic hand-drawn screen prints with architectural tailoring, the end results are bespoke and energetic with strong forms and unexpected embellishments. This unique and rare process means that fabrics have life, energy and are one of a kind.

Having trained at Central Saint Martins (Foundation to MA), Vanderpuije gained experience working in the studios for the likes of Alexander McQueen, Jonathan Saunders, Eley Kishimoto. Upon finishing her MA she won both the Diane Von Furstenberg Print and Womenswear design awards and was personally invited by Diane to work as a Print Designer in New York. Now looking for her own time to shine, I spoke to Joanna about her current collection and hopes for the future.

Can you describe what you do in one sentence?

Handcrafted, screen-printed tailored womenswear consisting of one of a kind,non-conformist luxury garments and accessories.

All of our pieces are crafted from start to finish by hand, we champion the notion of slow fashion in a current climate of disposable fashion. Our textiles are all hand printed/painted and marry unexpected embellishments with staple fabrics.

You’ve already had some amazing experiences since graduating, can you tell me a little bit about your journey so far?

I honed my skills at Central Saint Martins (Foundation to MA level) it was there I interned for the likes of Alexander McQueen (when Lee was alive) to Jonathan Saunders and more. Then upon my MA I met Diane (Diane von Furstenberg) after winning both the DVF Awards for Womenswear and Print, and she invited me to New York to work as a textile designer.

Afterwards I came back to finish my MA and showed at LFW with CSM and then under my own name the following year. It was when I was in the midst of working on my name label 2nd season that I was approached by Marimekko to work in Finland as a headline designer. As with the pressures of the industry I paused my own label to take on the huge role and my new team. It was a roller coaster journey of travel, business and design.

Following Scandinavia, I settled back into London and took some time out. When I was ready I began to freelance as a technical screenprinter for numerous clients from Victoria Beckham, Topshop, JW Anderson and many more, to wardrobe assisting for US Vogue (London based shoots) with Tonne Goodman and David Sims – it was magical! Years of working for others led me back to my name label brand, ready more than ever to focus on my design passions where I left off. Finally, here I am after numerous lessons and experiences along the way, and that’s the short version!

And what advice would you give to the young designers exhibiting for the first time?

Believe in yourself and your vision. If you don’t then why would anybody else?

What are your own hopes and dreams for after One Year On?

To steadily grow my brand here and internationally. Continue to focus my energies of what I love; designing, making and creating innovative beautiful womenswear. To see people from all walks of life and all over the world wearing and enjoying my work, and finally to inspire other creatives to keep on with making their dreams a reality.

To see more of Joanna Vanderpuije, pay a visit to New Designers 2017. Joanna will be showcasing her work during Part One of the exhibition, taking place at the Business Design Centre, between 28th June and the 1st June. Entering its 32nd edition, the New Designers exhibition brings together design education, design consumers and the design industry to celebrate and recognise and the next generation of graduate designers.